Pixelated Water Display Control for Smooth Waveform Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water fountain and lighting displays have limited appearance and choreography due to nozzle type, spacing, and insufficient control over water stream emission, making it difficult to program large numbers of nozzles and simulate desired displays.
Innovation Solution
A pixelated configuration of water nozzles arranged in a grid, with individually controllable nozzles and manifolds, allowing for high-resolution water stream choreographies and integration of lighting, motion sensors, and other utilities, controlled by a real-time system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of nozzles is increased to provide more choreography options, then the versatility of the display is improved, but the programming difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into modular pixel elements, each containing one or more nozzles. This segmentation allows the system to manage large numbers of nozzles through hierarchical control - individual pixel control for detailed choreography while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simulation software that creates virtual copies of the physical display to preview and program choreographies. This allows programmers to develop and test sequences digitally before execution, reducing the complexity of direct physical programming.
2Manufacturing precision
If nozzles are positioned closely together to provide high-resolution effect, then the visual quality is improved, but the control precision required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display surface is divided into discrete pixel elements with specific spacing. Each pixel acts as an independent controllable unit, providing natural segmentation that simplifies control while achieving high visual resolution through appropriate pixel density and spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies multiple parameters including nozzle spacing, pixel density, and water stream characteristics to achieve high visual resolution. By optimizing these parameters collectively, the system attains fine visual detail without requiring excessive control precision for each individual element.
3Ease of operation
If individually controllable nozzles are used to provide smooth transitions, then the choreography quality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple nozzles are combined into pixel elements that function as unified controllable units. This merging allows smooth transitions and complex choreographies to be achieved by controlling relatively few pixel elements rather than individually controlling each nozzle, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic control where pixel elements can be selectively activated, deactivated, and transitioned between states. This dynamic approach enables smooth choreographic transitions while maintaining simplified control architecture through real-time state management rather than complex mechanical adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
A water display including a number of pixels or manifolds that may include water nozzles to emit streams of water and/or other utilities such as lighting is described. The water streams may be pixelated so as to provide a high resolution waveform or other choreography. The choreography transitions between waveforms to provide the appearance of a cascading or undulating wave. A tool to design the water display and simulate its appearance is also described.